Prairie Provinces: Fall 2025

Geese through Grouse

While Brant are regular fall migrants in the Churchill, MB area, numbers were unusually high this year, with a peak count of 900 on 24 Oct (Judy Wilson, m.ob.). Single Brants at Grande Prairie and Coaldale, AB, both on 18 Oct (David Rhody, m.ob, ph.) and one at Delta, MB on 11 Nov (Walker Giesbrecht, Richard Boyd) were rare. Other goose species remained late in larger than normal numbers, such as 2500 Cackling Geese at Portage la Prairie, MB on 21 Nov (Garry Budyk, Rudolf Koes, ph.). Trumpeter Swans continue their rapid population growth in Manitoba, where up to 300 birds were tallied at Rennie River between 16 and 22 Nov (Linda Huisman, m.ob.). Rare ducks included a Eurasian Wigeon at Hecla, MB on 18 Sep (Vitalii Khustochka, ph.), an American Black Duck at Elk Island NP, AB from 8 to 29 Oct (Scott Loss, m.ob., ph.) and Harlequin Ducks at Sturgeon River Weir, SK on 4 Oct (Katelyn Luff, Laura Messett, ph.) and at Delta on 22–23 Oct (Marvin Koop, m.ob., ph.). Common Eiders attracted a lot of attention in Saskatchewan, with up to two at Round Lake from 12 to 29 Nov (Don Weidl, m.ob., ph.) and up to four individuals at Last Mountain Lake between 15 and 23 Nov (Brian Burgess, m.ob., ph.). There had been about 10 previous sightings in the province, including several at the latter location. Sharp-tailed Grouse bred successfully at Churchill this year, where two individuals were recorded on 16 Nov (Bonnie Chartier, Susan Craig) and a single bird at nearby Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge on 23 Nov (Sheri Vaughan, ph.).

Doves through Gulls

A White-winged Dove at Winnipeg, MB attracted numerous birders between 26 Oct and 4 Nov (Ken Simonite, m.ob., ph.) and another bird was at East Hill, SK on 26 Nov (D.M. Anderson, ph.). There were a number of notable hummingbird sightings: a record-late Ruby-throated Hummingbird at Winnipeg from 23 Oct to 5 Nov (Karine Dupuis, ph.), a Black-chinned Hummingbird at Hillcrest Mines, AB 12–15 Aug (Pat Lucas ph.), an Anna’s Hummingbird at the same location 10–12 Aug (Pat Lucas, ph.), with another one at Calgary, AB from 1 to 19 Aug (Lorna Aynbinder, Alan Knowles, ph.) and a Costa’s Hummingbird at Calgary from 10 to 12 Oct, which was taken for rehab on the latter date (Kristin Duff, m.ob, ph.). Rounding out the list was a Broad-billed Hummingbird at Swift Current, SK between 22 Sep and 9 Oct, when it was captured for rehabilitation (Josie Hammel, m.ob., ph.). A first for the province, it obviously attracted numerous birders. A Sora at Churchill on 9 Nov was very late for this northern location (Bonnie Chartier). The most notable shorebird in an otherwise poor season was a Ruff at Buffer Lake, SK on 23 Sep (Christopher Escott). Parasitic Jaegers were seen at Edmonton, AB on 22 Aug (Wayne Oakes, ph.), Stony Rapids, SK on 25 Aug (Dana Hamilton, Scott Cossette, ph.), at Lake Athabasca, SK on 16 Sep (Nathan Heuver) and at Lake Wabamun, AB on 21 Sep (David Grinevitch). An Ancient Murrelet at Banff NP, AB 16–18 Sep was a great find (Marc Breau, m.ob., ph.), providing Alberta with its ninth record. The only rare terns reported were an Arctic Tern at Blackstrap Reservoir, SK on 3 Sep (Stan Shadick) and another at Frank Lake, AB on 26 Sep (m.ob., ph.). The most notable gulls were a Black-legged Kittiwake at Blackstrap from 22 to 25 Nov (Ryan Dudragne, m.ob., ph.) and a Sabine’s Gull at Newton Lake, SK on 27 Sep (Vicki St Germaine).

Loons through Falcons

There were at least four October sightings of Red-throated Loon in Saskatchewan (m.ob.), while Pacific Loons were at Little Arm Bay, SK on 19 Oct (Sachiko Schott) and at Round Lake from 12 to 15 Nov (Don Weidl). Rarer still was a Yellow-billed Loon at the latter location on 19 Nov (Don Weidl, ph.). At least four Great Egrets were present for much of the season at various locations in Alberta. Rare for Alberta was a lone Little Blue Heron at Redwater from 7 to 17 Sep (Lorraine Glass, m.ob., ph.). A very tardy Turkey Vulture was south of Riding Mountain NP, MB on 21 Nov (Kerri Allard, Hannah Shields). Late Broad-winged Hawks were at Blackstrap and Regina, SK on 1 Nov (m.ob., ph.). There were multiple reports of American Barn Owls in Alberta: one was seen in Calgary on different dates through November, including the 2nd and 22nd, another two were noted southwest of Calgary between 9 and 16 Nov and one was at Beiseker on 30 Nov (m.ob., ph.). Both Eastern and Western Screech-Owls continued in southern Alberta, while other owls were in short supply. Red-headed Woodpeckers appeared to have had a good breeding season in Manitoba, with numerous reports of fall migrants. One at Moose Jaw, SK on 14 Sep was well west of its normal range (Adele Dueck, ph.). Similarly out-of-range was a Red-bellied Woodpecker at Red Deer, AB on 18 Sep (Ashley Lutz, ph.). A Downy Woodpecker at York Factory, MB on 31 Aug was hundreds of km north of its known range (Greg Stroud).

Flycatchers through Towhees

A Scissor-tailed Flycatcher visited the Prince Albert, SK area on 1 Sep (John Lundgren, ph.). A very late Red-eyed Vireo was at Pembina Valley, MB on 23 Oct (Dylan Labossiere, ph.). Although there are over twenty records of Clark’s Nutcracker in Saskatchewan, most years none are reported. This year there was one at Saskatoon on 20 Nov (Scott Mitchell). Four Black-capped Chickadees at York Factory on 31 Aug were out-of-range (Greg Stroud), as were up to two birds at Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge 22–23 Nov (Sheri Vaughan, ph.). Also noteworthy were four Chestnut-backed Chickadees at Waterton NP on 4 Sep (Cathy Holtslander). Northern Mockingbirds were good finds at Fort McLeod, AB on 29 Sep (Carey Bergman) and at Grande Prairie 3–8 Oct (m.ob. ph.). Alberta hosted two Eastern Bluebirds at Edmonton on 18 Oct (Tyler Cox, ph.), plus singles at Calgary on 25 Oct (Christopher Merke, ph.) and Medicine Hat from 4 to 8 Nov (m.ob., ph.). A Northern Wheatear, only the third for Alberta, was found injured in an Edmonton garden on 27 Sep and taken in for rehab (Liam Doyle, ph.). A Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch was reported at Melfort, SK on 14 Nov (Bert Dalziel). Redpolls and crossbills were scarce or absent throughout the region. A Snow Bunting at Hnausa, MB on 2 Aug was unexpectedly early (Kathryn Stephens, ph.). Also early were an American Tree Sparrow and two Fox Sparrows north of Winnipeg on 13 Sep (Andy Courcelles, Gene Walz). A Spotted Towhee at Beaumont, AB 9–10 Nov was considered rare both for its northerly location and lateness in the season (Marek Piesiur, ph.).

Warblers through Indigo Bunting

A very tardy Ovenbird was seen at Winnipeg on 10 Nov (Richard & Janice Drummond, ph.). A Blue-winged Warbler, which lingered in Calgary from 14 to 18 Sep, was the fourth for Alberta (Robert Woods, m.ob., ph.). Not quite as rare was a Northern Parula in the same city from 18 to 23 Oct (m.ob., ph.). Notably late were a Magnolia Warbler at Regina on 6 Nov (Hanna Walczykowski, ph.) and a Blackpoll Warbler at Regina on 8 Nov (anon.). There were Saskatchewan October records of Black-throated Blue Warbler at Saskatoon and Morse (m.ob., ph.) and no fewer than four Manitoba records in September (m.ob., ph.). A Pine Warbler wandered west to Blackstrap PP on 6 Sep (m.ob.), while Townsend’s Warblers moved east into Saskatchewan, with reports from the Battleford area on 25 Aug (Joseph Stookey), Morse on 5 Sep (Lori Wilson) and north of Saskatoon on 17 Sep (Corinne Dagenais, ph.). Alberta’s second Prairie Warbler was at Lethbridge, AB from 21 to 27 Nov, allowing many to see (Sarah Povodnik, m.ob., ph.). A Summer Tanager was present at Cochrane, AB on 31 Aug, with possibly the same bird there on 7 Sep (Neill McDonald, ph.), while Western Tanagers were found in Manitoba at Winnipeg on 9 Sep (Paul Friesen) and at Carman on 24 Oct (Dylan Labossiere, ph.). A Rose-breasted Grosbeak x Black-headed Grosbeak hybrid at Edmonton was seen by many between 23 and 28 Aug (m.ob.), while an Indigo Bunting continued from summer until 8 Aug at Medicine Hat (m.ob., ph.).

Report edited by Andrew Keaveney, 04 Mar 2026